July, 1922 
FOREST AND STREAM 
321 
ing in overhanging branches or twigs or 
to glancing from a poor stroke. 
The handle should be at least twenty 
inches over all. Let it be twenty-five 
inches if suitcase limitations are not nec- 
essary. The e.xtra comfort and power of 
swing when there’s real work to do will 
compensate for the additional inches. If 
for a double-bit it can be shortened to 
fit any contraction of quarters with- 
out being spoiled. 
Last to be mentioned but not least in 
practical importance is the fact, if the 
worst happens and a handle breaks, a 
greenhorn can make a serviceable helve 
for the straight-handle double axe, with 
a.xehead and knife, whereas much time 
would be required to fashion a make- 
shift, even, for a polled axe. 
E. L. LIoward, New Hampshire. 
FORM OR COLOR IN 
THE DRY-FLY 
{Continued from page 302) 
Thus, in a list made up many years ago 
by Mary O. Marbury, the Coachman re- 
ceived the high vote of the large number 
of anglers whom she consulted; Larry 
St. John, in a similar attempt, found the 
Coachman to be the favorite ;* and in 
a voting contest conducted by the Amer- 
ican Angler the Royal Coachman re- 
ceived 94 votes out of a possible 200, 
the Coachman being next with 54. The 
Coachman is also the favorite dry-fly of 
Mr. Samuel G. Camp.* 
The net result of these opinions, which 
apparently summarize the experience of 
a great number of anglers, would seem 
to place the Coachman and the Royal 
Coachman as the most killing of our flies 
—and yet Avhere is one so bold as to 
state that the coloration of either one 
is an e.xact imitation of any insect? 
Fished sunk, either of these flies might 
be struck in mistake for a small min- 
now ; but as a dry-fly the only reason 
to assign for their killing effect must be 
their resemblance in form to some type 
of insect life. If the experience of the 
vast majority of anglers means any- 
thing then it implies that trout are in- 
sensible to fine graduations of color, at 
least in the floating-fly. 
Should this theory be correct, and 
there seems scant reason to doubt it, 
then one of the greatest impediments to 
the universal popularity of the dry-fly is 
removed; instead of carrying a hundred 
or more flies differing from each other 
only in color (from which assortment 
the angler must select the fly which he 
judges by its appearance to him will 
correspond with what the trout sees in 
the floating insect upon which it is feed- 
ing) he may limit his patterns to a bare 
half-dozen or less forms corresponding 
to the types of insect life likely to be 
upon the stream, as, for example; (1) 
Duns; (2) Moths; (3) Midges; (4) 
hlosquitoes. When we remember that 
there are over one hundred patterns of 
dry-flies catalogued, plus over five hun- 
dred of the wet variety, the economy at 
least of this theory is apparent. Natur- 
ally there is a pleasure in owning a large 
assortment of dry-flies, just as there is 
in a fine collection of postage stamps or 
of old coins — -but the place for such a 
collection, as a collection, is at home. 
**14 Bass in just one hour 
on the Osprey Dardevlet! 
“I enclose an order for some of your wonderful baits. I am going to 
take up a little of your time with a few lines, knowing you are interested 
in fishing, and the success of your baits. 
*‘A while back, I bought a bunch of bass baits and included a Dardevlet. Went 
fishing yesterday and there were spoons, spinners, and all kinds of plug baits. 
“1 tried everything I had and I generally carry ‘some’ artillery with me. Well, 
nobody got a strike. 
They all said there were no bass on this side of the lake. I told 
Dardevle’s Imp, youngest of the tribe 
Length 2Vs in*« width V 4 in** weight V 2 oz. 65c 
Dardevlet, “son of the old boy” 
Length 2ygin.» width 1 in «9 weight 85c 
them I knew a darn sight better. Just 
weren’t biting. 
“I started home and got to the auto when 
1 remembered 1 hadn’t tried the Old Boy him- 
self. So I went back, tied him on and gave 
him a cast. 1 hadn’t reeled 20 feet when 
‘Bang’ di 2 Y 2 lb. bass. ‘Oh, Boy,’ in just one 
hour I had 1 4 bass that weighed from % to 
2 Y 2 ihs. One of the fellows said to 
the rest, ‘What in hell is that fel- 
low fishing with?’ They went wild. 
1 was the only one who got a bass. 
You ought to see them look the 
‘Old Boy himself’ over. 1 started 
home and Harry, a good pal of 
mine, said, ‘Homer, if you’re going 
home for God’s sake loan me that 
bait.’ 1 let him have it, and told 
him to be awfully careful with it, 
as it was worth its weight in gold. 
When he came home he had 1 0 fine 
bass all caught on 
that bait. 
“Please rush my 
order of separate 
P^ige. 
(Signed) 
Dardevle, “the old boy himself” 
Length ZVzin,, width V/& in.t weight 1 oz. 85c 
“Homer Cox, 
“Loveland, 
Colorado.” 
April 21, 1922. 
Osprey Brand “Nostealum” Insect Hooks 
Osprey Brand “NOSTEALUM” Insect hooks hold Grasshoppers — 
Grubs — Minnows and other natural baits close to the hook. 
Any fish that fools with this Buzz Saw of the Fish Hook family 
will be hung high and dry before he has finished saying “Good Morn- 
ing Breakfast.” 
There’s a proper size hook for any bait from a house-fly to - a 
shiner. Hooks shown in cut are actual size. Baits easily attached 
to hook without removing hook from line or squashing the bait. 
Trout Fishermen who use live bait will find this hook just what 
they have been looking for. 
No more re-baiting hooks every time a fish looks cross-eyed at the 
bait. 
Price: Sizes 10 to 4 — 15c each; size 3 — 20c each; sizes 2 and I — 
25c each. Postpaid. 
If your dealer cannot supply you, sent direct upon receipt of price. 
I Recommend Osprey Lines for Dardevle Lures 
“OSPREY” lines are waterproofed so they won’t rot, are 
braided so they shoot through the guides like greased lightning, 
and are guaranteed to stand anything excepting rough or 
cracked guides. “Osprey” lines have stood the test for 15 years. 
12-Ib. test, $1.50 per 50-yd. spool 
15-lb. test, 1.65 per 50-yd. spool 
20-ib. test, 2.50 per 50-yd. spool 
23-ib. test, 2.65 per 50-yd. spool 
26-lb. test, 2.80 per 50-yd. spool 
30-lb. test, 3.15 per 50-yd. spool 
(Can be purchased 100 < 
12-Ib. test, $1.10 per 33*/3-yd. spool 
15-lb. test, 1.20 per 33'/3-yd. spool 
20-lb. test, 1.85 per 33'/3-yd. spool 
23-lb. test, 1.95 per 33'/3-yd. spool 
26-lb. test, 2.05 per 33'/3-yd. spool 
30-lb. test, 2.30 per 33'/3-yd. spool 
66 2/3 yards connected) 
The 26 and 30-lb. test are suitable for salt water fishing as 
well as muscallonge and other large fish. Satisfaction guar- 
anteed. Write for samples and dope sheet. 
LOU J. EPPINGER 
310-12 East CongresF Street, Dept. O, Detroit, Michigan 
In Writing to Advertisers mention Forest and Stream. It will identify you. 
